Large apartment complex surrounded by new nine-hole golf course proposed for northwest Lawrence

Watch out Tiger Woods. It looks like I may soon start getting paid to golf, too.

Plans have been filed at Lawrence City Hall to revive a unique apartment proposal that would include building a new nine-hole golf course in northwest Lawrence. (More on how that benefits my pocketbook in a moment.)

In fact, the plans have expanded since they first were filed back in late 2007.

Fayetteville, Ark.-based Lindsey Management has filed a proposal to build a 630-unit apartment complex that will front a new privately owned nine hole golf course at 251 Queens Road.

If you are having a hard time picturing that location, it is just a bit east of another little project that has been in the news — the proposed Kansas University/city of Lawrence sports park and recreation center.

The project would be on about 81 acres on the north side of Sixth Street, basically stretching from Queens Road toward George Williams Way. The project would run behind, or north of, the recently constructed Hunter’s Ridge Apartment Complex and St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church.

The company bought the land several years ago after it filed its original plan in 2007. But back then, the project was slated to be a 480-unit apartment complex.

The development, though, will still have room for a nine-hole golf course, and that is what really makes this apartment proposal unique. Lindsey operates apartment complexes across the Midwest and the southern U.S. that are connected to golf courses. According to the company’s Web site, in some communities residents' monthly rent provides them unlimited access to the golf course. In other communities, residents of the apartment complex get highly discounted green fees.

I’ve got a call into Lindsey officials for more details about their Lawrence plans, but haven’t yet heard back.

Some of you may be familiar with the company’s golf course and apartment projects. The company operates the Derby Golf & Country Club and the apartments around it, and also the Shawnee Golf & Country Club and those apartments.

The company also operates golf/apartment complexes in Columbia, Mo., and Springfield, Mo., in addition to projects in Tennessee, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Mississippi, Arkansas and Alabama.

As for the Lawrence golf course, the plans filed at City Hall indicate it will be more than your typical, short executive golf course but probably will play a little shorter than, say, Eagle Bend.

I suspect all of this is subject to change, but here’s what I garnered about the course from the plans on file at City Hall: Hole No. 1, 333 yards; No. 2, 254 yards, plays partially over about a half-acre lake; No. 3, 100 yards; No. 4, 250 yards, plays over a portion of what looks to be an approximately 3-acre lake; No. 5, 487 yards, plays over a portion of the same lake; No. 6, 112 yards, plays through a narrow alley of trees; No. 7, 487 yards; No. 8, 123 yards; and No. 9, 333 yards.

In addition, the project will include a two-story clubhouse and a large natural area. The plans show 13 acres in the center of the property will be designated as a “tree preservation area.”

Based on the company’s Web site, it looks like in other communities the golf courses do sell some limited memberships to folks who don’t live at the apartment complex. Opening the course to public play was part of the plans in 2007. Either way, it will be new competition for the city’s existing five golf courses — two at Alvamar, Lawrence Country Club, the executive Orchards Course and the city-owned Eagle Bend.

It will be interesting to hear what has caused Lindsey officials to restart the project that was previously put on hold due to economic conditions. Just a month ago, developers of another large apartment complex proposed for the Gaslight Village Mobile Home Park in south Lawrence, pulled the plug. They said they didn’t see the demand in Lawrence, although that project was exclusively targeted to students.

This project may be more of a mix of students and retirees. From the plans, about two-thirds of the apartments will be one-bedroom units while the remainder will be two-bedroom units.

Perhaps the recreation center and sports park is spurring some new interest, or it might be the company has been encouraged by the other development happening nearby.

As I mentioned, this project will be next door to the recently completed Hunter’s Ridge Apartment Complex, which has about 500 living units. In addition, we’ve reported on two apartment projects that are either under way or have filed plans for the area north of Sixth and Wakarusa. Plus, plans have been filed for a new residential development near the southeast corner of Sixth Street and the South Lawrence Trafficway. In addition to about 30 single-family homes, it includes about 50 duplexes and 85 new apartments.

So the Sixth Street corridor is showing signs of growth. But, at the moment, apartments rather than single-family homes are dominating the action.

As for how this latest golf project will help my pocketbook, that’s easy. With all those apartments so close to a golf course, it seems a given that my friends at Kennedy Glass or some other window repair shop will pay to send me and my buddy out on the course, armed with our reliable hook and slice.

I lived at "The Links" in Ft. Smith, AR back in the mid 90's and it was awesome. Didn't have to use my driver and could play all the golf I wanted to. Luckily I had an outfacing apartment so no broken windows. This will be a good thing for Lawrence.

Do we really need another golf course?? Are people waiting in line at all of the others? When do the kids get something? The putt-putt golf was torn down for a bank, the skating rink was torn down to build another shopping center, the 2nd bowling alley gave way to Wal-mart.Can we build something for the kids for a change?

West 6th- the land of 50 shades of beige strip malls and 50 shades of beige apartments, even the walmart is beige. The starbucks they're building out there is the biggest freaking starbucks I've ever seen. I can guess what color it's going to be though. The whole scene is depressing.

FYI, that whole building won't be occupied by Starbucks. There is room for two other retailers to go into the space. I don't yet have info on those tenants yet, but will do some more checking.
Here's an article about the Starbucks spot:
http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2012/aug...
Thanks,
Chad

I'll reserve judgment until I see the site plan. If it's urban (or at least 'new urban'), adds density to the area, and integrates well with the surrounding community (not some one-road-in-and-out compound), then it's a great idea. If it's just some suburban abomination like a lot of what's going up in West Lawrence, it should be opposed at all levels.

The old Kaw Motors site is set to become the new home for Advantage Metals out of Kansas City. It deals in scrap metal. New buildings will be built as part of the plan. We have reported on it a couple of times, but folks obviously have forgotten because lots of people are asking me about it. I'll try to get in touch with them and find out a timeline for them to open. Here's an article that provides a summary from earlier this year:
http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2012/mar...
Thanks, Chad

If the 'pro-growth' crowd (to perpetuate the vacuous cliches in this thread, and yes, I'm looking at you) want to waste your tax dollars on infrastructure to subsidize housing developments in the middle of nowhere , then Lawrence must be a great place to live for you! Do you like paying more taxes than necessary to subsidize road, sewer, and water infrastructure to benefit people who want to build houses in the middle of nowhere? Guess why property taxes in Lawrence keep going up? Because low density residential development is a net revenue loser for city governments. It's a fact. Incontrovertible. Look it up, yo!

Okay, lemme get this straight - They cleared out all the trailers from Gaslight then dropped the project?!?!? Wasn't that nice of them?
"Just a month ago, developers of another large apartment complex proposed for the Gaslight Village Mobile Home Park in south Lawrence, pulled the plug. They said they didn’t see the demand in Lawrence, although that project was exclusively targeted to students. "

Right by KU the Fritzel eyesore apartment complex is surrounded by apartment complexes that have had for lease signs up all year. Are these apartment complexes used as tax writeoffs for our big monopoly players running the show?